Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

BIAA Signs On In Support of National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week Resolution

BIAA was proud to sign on as a supporter of the National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week Resolution (S. Res. 518), which passed the Senate on Monday. The Resolution, introduced by Senator Dodd (D-CT), dedicates this week (the week of April 21st through 25th) to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome and to ultimately eliminate its occurrence.

BIAA was included as a supporter of the resolution in Senator Dodd’s floor statement that was submitted to the Congressional Record when it was introduced on Thursday, April 16, 2008.

BIAA Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

Also this week, BIAA submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of funding TBI programs within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges an increase in funding in Fiscal Year 2009 for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as TBI research programs conducted within the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

Within the testimony, BIAA requests $30 million in funding for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as sufficient funding to sustain and increase medical rehabilitation research within NIDRR. The testimony also urges an allocation of at least $8.3 million to allow NIDRR to continue to fund 16 TBI Model Systems research centers.

In addition, BIAA played a leading role, along with other national organizations, in recent weeks in drafting and circulating an organizational sign-on letter in support of FY09 TBI appropriations. The letter, which was signed by over 25 organizations - including several veterans organizations - was recently delivered to both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Copies of both BIAA’s written testimony and the Organizational Sign-On Letter in support of appropriations for TBI programs can be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website at the following address: http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.

House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Delay Harmful Medicaid Regulations

This week the House of Representatives passed by a veto-proof margin H.R. 5613, important legislation which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven harmful Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. BIAA issued a Legislative Action Alert earlier this week before the vote encouraging advocates to urge their Representative to vote YES on the bill. The fate of the bill is now up to the Senate.

The legislation, which was originally introduced on March 13, 2008, would delay the implementation of seven harmful Medicaid regulations through March 2009, including several rules which would be especially deleterious to individuals with brain injury.

One of these rules would limit rehabilitation services for Medicaid beneficiaries, severely curtailing the ability of people with disabilities – including TBI – to receive rehabilitation services now covered under Medicaid. Access to these rehabilitative services is essential, as in many cases, these services play a vital role in allowing people with TBI to live independently in the community.

As the House considered and passed H.R. 5613 by a vote of 349-62 on Wednesday, Senate Republican leadership began circulating a letter defending the Medicaid regulations and urging colleagues to reject such legislation in the Senate. According to news sources, this letter forms part of a Republican strategy to demonstrate to supporters of H.R. 5613, through the gathering of a sufficient number of signatures, that they will not be able to override a veto in the Senate.

If enough Senators sign on to the Republican leadership letter, effectively backing up the president’s veto threat, there is speculation that the White House could then offer a limited moratorium on only two of the harmful regulations. Unfortunately, these two regulations are not the ones addressing targeted case management and rehabilitative services, which stand to directly impact individuals with brain injury. (CQ Healthbeat News, April 24, 2008, John Reichard).

Without a moratorium, all seven of the regulations would go into effect by June 30 of this year.

BIAA thanks advocates for contacting their Representatives this week, and will shortly issue another Legislative Alert anticipating Senate action on the bill.

A copy of BIAA’s letter endorsing H.R. 5613 can be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website at the following address: http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.

Congress passed legislation to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act this week!  The bill is now ready to be sent on to the President for his signature into law.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed S. 793 – the version of the legislation agreed upon by both chambers (more information below) - by a vote of 392-1.  Then, last night, the Senate cleared the bill one last time, marking final passage by Congress. Continue Reading »

Effective: January 1, 2006

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For a perfectly healthy woman, Dianne Kerley has had quite a few medical tests in recent years: M.R.I. and PET scans of her brain, two spinal taps and hours of memory and thinking tests.

Ms. Kerley, 52, has spent much of her life in the shadow of an illness that gradually destroys memory, personality and the ability to think, speak and live independently. Her mother, grandmother and a maternal great-aunt all developed Alzheimer’s disease. Her mother, 78, is in a nursing home in the advanced stages of dementia, helpless and barely responsive. Continue Reading »

Congress approved a Medicare “extenders” bill this week, which includes three significant rehabilitation provisions that have been legislative priorities this year for BIAA:  Medicare’s 75 Percent Rule on inpatient rehabilitation, Medicare outpatient therapy caps, and the pending regulation on Medicaid’s Rehabilitation Services Option. Continue Reading »

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Effective resuscitation in patients with traumatic brain injury and hemorrhage is a challenge. While blood is the optimal resuscitation fluid, it is typically not available in the out-of-hospital setting, and its use is associated with certain risks. Research shows that HBOC-201 holds promise…
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Shares of Plato Learning dropped 9.7 percent Friday after the provider of computer-based tutoring programs said its second-quarter net loss widened as revenue declined. The net loss in the quarter ended April 30 likely will be between $5.5 million and $6.3 million, Bloomington-based Plato said in a preliminary earnings statement. Plato had a net loss of $3 million a year earlier. Second-quarter revenue fell to between $19 million and $20 million, down from $31.4 million last year. Plato has posted losses for the past five quarters. Chief Executive Officer Mike Morache said the company is introducing products and subscription programs but didn’t reach its expectations this quarter in making those changes. Plato will release final results June 1. Plato shares closed at $8.75, down 94 cents.

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Name : DENNIS J. WRIGHT, dwright@phoenixvillenews.com

05/09/2006

According to Cynthia Morrison, chairman, “Toast To Spring” will include the latest fashions, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and a silent auction and raffle.
“Everyone from youngsters to grandparents will get a glimpse of the new trend-setting apparel for both spring and summer,” said Morrison. “Fashions for women will include a collection of fun and flirty playwear, work attire and outfits for a night out on the town.”

Women’s fashions will be presented by Polka*Dots of Phoenixville and Paoli, while boys and girls outfits are by Kids Clothesline and Occasions Boutique of Malvern.

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